Can Dignity Be Scaled? Reflections from Room to Read’s Swiss Roundtable on Africa, Literacy, Language & Learning

When I accepted the invitation to the Room to Read Roundtable in Zurich, I didn’t overthink it.

I was simply and honestly curious.

I’m always drawn to conversations that bring people from different sectors together—especially those grounded in real-world challenges and human-centered solutions. I came not as a donor, nor a policymaker, but as someone who values meaningful dialogue, new perspectives, and collaborative thinking around systems that shape lives. And within the first few minutes of this brunch-format roundtable, I knew I was exactly where I needed to be.

Room to Read brought together a small group of Swiss-based foundation partners, corporate supporters, and engaged allies to share updates on their work—particularly their growing presence in African countries, and their commitment to foundational literacy and gender equity.

The focus wasn’t flashy.

It was intentional.

And that, to me, was the point.

As someone who studied Politics and International Relations and completed a Master’s in African Development at LSE—with a thesis on education financing and public-private partnerships in Tanzania—I felt an unexpected but welcome sense of alignment. The conversations taking place around that table were not just about program models or expansion plans. They were about power, dignity, language, and legacy.

Room to Read’s literacy model is known for its reach—over 50 million children impacted, books published in 57 languages, and programs active across Asia and Africa. But what impressed me most was the way the organization is critically evolving its approach. Words like “beneficiaries” and “field visits” are being phased out, replaced with “community visits” and “partnership.” These aren’t just semantic swaps—they reflect a deeper interrogation of the development lexicon itself.

This is vital.

Because how we speak about people often shapes how we design for them.

Much of the discussion centered on the next phase of Room to Read’s work in Africa, particularly Nigeria, where feasibility studies across 12 states are informing a careful and collaborative entry. One line from board member Paul Agbaje stayed with me: “Nigeria excites and depresses me in equal measure.” It was a moment of candor that captured the duality many of us hold—hope and heartbreak, all at once. It reminded us that real impact lives in the tension, not the certainty.

We also explored the challenges behind the statistics. According to UNESCO, 90% of African children under the age of 10 cannot read a simple sentence. This isn't just an education issue—it’s a generational crisis. A recent article shared at the roundtable titled “Tackling Africa’s Foundational Learning Crisis” framed this reality with sobering clarity. If literacy and numeracy remain out of reach for most children, Africa’s demographic dividend could quickly become a demographic disaster.

And yet, the solutions aren’t theoretical. They’re already in motion.

From play-based learning models supported by the LEGO Foundation to evidence-based methodologies like TaRL (Teaching at the Right Level), and structured pedagogy programs in countries like Kenya and Zambia—there’s no shortage of tested interventions. What’s needed now is scale, political will, and long-term investment in teachers, not just technology.

This is where Room to Read’s approach feels both humble and strategic. Their “I do, we do, you do” model—used to co-create programs and eventually hand them over to local and national education systems—offers a thoughtful response to the dilemma of dependency. It’s about building infrastructure for literacy that is truly owned by the communities it serves.

As I listened to Eilanne Januth, who leads Room to Read’s Swiss chapter and hosted the event with warmth and precision, I was reminded of the quiet power of convening. These kinds of spaces—small, sincere, and grounded in trust—are where meaningful partnerships begin. Eilanne’s calm stewardship and deep commitment to impact stood out in all the right ways.

So what stayed with me?

That literacy is about more than letters. It’s about access. Voice. Power.That education should never be reduced to enrollment metrics alone.That dignity must be designed—not declared.And that for Africa’s future to flourish, we need to invest in learning, not just schooling.

Because literacy isn’t just a building block. It's the foundation upon which all futures are written.

With thanks to Eilanne Januth, Paul Agbaje, and Rocio Lopez for hosting the Roundtable Africa brunch and opening a meaningful space for exchange.

To learn more about Room to Read’s work—or explore ways to support their efforts to end learning poverty—visit www.roomtoread.org.To read the full article on Tackling Africa’s Foundational Learning Crisis, visit African Business, February 2025 edition.